SFD Bond Failure Proves Voters Fed Up with Its Budget Waste

Sedona AZ (February 10, 2018) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:

Editor,

That article in the 2/7 Red Rock News by (Sedona Fire District) Fire Chief (Kris) Kazian did one worthy service for us taxpayers. It announced that the SFD board was now looking into the upcoming fire district budget. The remainder of his message was an insult to the intelligence of the public. He prattled on about how and what a budget process is about. As if we taxpayers are so stupid as not to know anything about budgets. The nice sounding platitudes were all over the place but not one bit of information about what the board will place in their agenda for action.

That scared me. Because during the time before the $18 million bond issue vote last November this same Ty Montgomery SFD Board gang promoted the outlandish demand for tax money to spend foolishly on all those fire houses not needing repairs. As they did so they also told us if the bond failed they were going to hit us up with tax increases. Good managing doesn’t use threats like this to obtain results. Thug like politicians do. So now the budget is up for action by this same board. They issued the threat and the what if occurred. Get ready with your check book the tax hit is on.

Let’s sit back and take a hard look at what is going on. The 3 to 2 vote against the bond tells us one thing for sure. That is the taxpayers are fed up with the SFD for wasting our money. There were other factors but this vote was a glaring tax payer revolt. This leads on to that there may be something else we should be concerned about. For me it starts with the really great group of front line fire fighters and medics who do the real work of protecting us all so competently.

Sedona Fire District Bond failed by a 3-2 taxpayer vote that messaged the SFD budget needs trimming and not more tax money.

All the blabla we heard about for the bond issue obliterated anything about the great job the fire fighters and medics do for us. So buying fire trucks we do not require, rebuilding perfectly good fire houses, overpaying the fire chief, hiring more paper pushing bureaucrats etc. etc. only diverts attention from the important factors. More of the same will only further disenchant the tax paying public and that will not bode well for the fire fighters and medics we have. The SFD front line is well paid but well ahead of our police and teachers. An imbalance is never good. All of which has me worried.

That brings up the SFD board election this fall. We need a house cleaning and badly. Being well advised and objective will show up in your voting decision. Let’s get on the right track.

35 Comments

Hate much? Pretty ignorant to complain about your FD, I believe you’ve done so for years. Major, serious fires, floods, crappy roadways, sick retirees, injured hikers, you need a good FD. Wait until you need to call 911. Everyone does eventually, and trust me, from a live-saving service recipient, to life-saving services providor, I have been through both, the latter, several times, the former once. Find another hobby, you indirectly have blood on your hands. You know not the evil you spew!

You say be afraid, just give us your money and we will protect you. Just like the Federal Government and all the wasteful military spending. Did you see the fires in California recently? The fire departments said the fires were too big, and let everything burn. The same outcome as if there had been no fire departments.

Never a thought of what is reasonable, fair and affordable. Just trust us, we are from the government and we are here to help. Bull, you went too far, we have had enough of you tax feeders.

I had the interview for the board position this week. I was sure I would not get it but I wanted to try and make some points to the board.

I got the impression they will try for another bond issue. One of the questions was “How would the fire district get more support for a district bond?”

They are planning on increasing spending on equipment. I pointed out points of voter resistance. I said we don’t need ladder trucks in a town like Sedona. I said we would be safer with water drop helicopters and a water drop 747 jet, we don’t need those either.

The voters need to vote in a new fire board. Vote in people who are realistic about safety and not catering to the whim of fire personnel who want everything they see like spoiled children. Otherwise, you will be buying one or two new ladder trucks. The water drop helicopters and 747 jet are probably not far behind.

Tony Tonsich says:
February 22, 2018 at 12:17 pm
I said we don’t need ladder trucks in a town like sedona.

So now Tony is an expert on fire equipment.We already know Tony thinks community development can be run with three people, his neighbor told him so.
tony is an expert in all areas of Fire and city staffing, and purchasing,
“Tony said Sedona doesn’t need a hook and ladder truck. “
Tony hook and ladder trucks are use for tall buildings and regular fires .
Tony there’s are three story hotels in sedona we have the Hyatt hotel and Best western uptown , The Fire Chief and fire department would be derelict if they didn’t have the right equipment to save peoples lives in hotels during a fire. He also thinks we don’t need a fire station up the canyon I think many many people would disagree
Tony and your friends will be the first to point fingers if there were a hotel fire and our fire dept could’ve saved lives because they didn’t have a hook and ladder truck. Safety and lives come first

We have TONS of so called experts that are really special interests that snake taxpayers money for their own enrichment.

Tony has more creditably and NO conflicts of interests like the Dog food salesman AKA – SS, Waitress AKA JenW, Golddiggers – Actors that are snaking YOUR $$$ and others that are being paid by taxpayers.

@Tony T – let us all just be grateful Steve Segner wasn’t picked for the board replacement. Never met the fellow but based on the arrogance he continues to express on almost every article on Sedona Eye, I don’t think we need him representing our Fire (or School) Districts. Let City of Sedona keep him for their very own!! (my opinion)

Regarding the Canyon station, it would be nice if next time there was a fire in the canyon Sedona Fire rushed to put it out, instead of sitting in the truck waiting to see whose jurisdiction it was until the fire had spread too large to put out. There is video linked on the Sedona Eye showing their lack of action years ago. No more setting the Canyon Fire station on fire also. Remember, you’re supposed to put them out, not start or watch fires grow.

Orange County says:Hello Sedona. Progressives ruined our county Kick them out of Arizona

Yeah, woman’s right to vote OUT
High school education for all OUT
The equal rights amendment OUT
The 30 year home loan OUT
The home loan for vets OUT
Social security OUT
Medicare Out
Damn all Progressives and the laws that help other people.
Progressives didn’t even support Bush when he started the middle east war…. Dam all Progressives
America should be more like south Africa the rich live in the cities in big homes and the poor the lazy people live as best they can” picking “at the city dump….
Conservatives ….. ME ME ME ME that is what America is all about ….

“Steve segner says:
January 12, 2017 at 10:51 am
After last night meeting and the outcome, and the no shows from the sedona Eye,I will no longer need to follow all the crazy talk signing off no more posts.”
If you see a steve segner it will be a phony posting been fun so long ss”

“ME ME ME ME ” “Progressives and the laws that help other people.”
Sounds good doesn’t it. Except I want to make sure the City of Sedona keeps giving $2,500,000 a year to the Sedona Chamber, honest, I’m just taking the money for “ME ME ME ME.” Um, I mean, that is what America is all about. Um, I mean, ” For the High school and womans right to vote. ” Did I mention $2.5 million for Apple PIe? Um, the chamber?

To hear someone writing as segner writing that if we don’t’ give the Sedona Chamber of Commerce $2,500,000 every year it is the same as ending Social Security, the womens right to vote and high school education shows the ridiculousness of giving a member focused group money when they don’t deserve it. When the chamber is a major cause of our traffic problems.

Sedona has bumper to bumper traffic forecast by ADOT to get worse,and the Chamber keeps advertising at the Phoenix airport.

End gifting funds to the chamber, end no bid contracts, NO on home rule and elect a new city council. It’s not too late.

Progressives believe in Magical thinking, we can just keep giving money away to our friends and favored groups. The bill will never come due. For an example look at the pension problems in Illinois. Sedona spent $10,000,000 from reserves in one year and gave millions to the chamber and every group in the Verde Valley with it’s hand out. After they have destroyed a place progressives scurry away and say it was not their fault.

senile Steve Segner is an example of the progressive insanity, along with the majority of the current Sedona City council.

Tony you live in a tourist town you knew that when you moved here it’s Easter week get over it it’s going to grow even more the only fixes to work on some roads were a tourist town we have 8000 people that make their living in a tourist town if you don’t like the traffic The city of SEDONA marketing plan that is facilitated by the chamber is in the winter January and summer July and August there is no marketing going on Tony ‘s plan is to take $12 million on the budget and hopes that less people come to Sedona he will not tell us how he will take $12 million out of the budget just that he can do it show us in detail how you can take $12 million out of the budget then we can ask legitimate questions of your plan you are running for mayor Tony show us how are you going to cut the budget by 12 million do the $30 million in roadwork, pave more than 100 miles of city streets, and finish off the sewer plant please show us

Seems this fellow Segner thinks he not only owns and operates incorporated Sedona but now wants to control the Fire & School Districts. Does he not live in Oak Creek Canyon which does entitles his vote for School & Fire Boards. However, by registering his business as a fictitious residence in order to vote in Sedona elections? Well, how deceptive is that? A true mark of a sneaky, manipulative character IMO.

Clearly the fellow has a grudge against demogratic form of government and would prefer socialism or communism as long as he’s crowned the dictator.

Would prefer he keep his overbearing pushiness in his own backyard which doesn’t include VOC – Oak Creek Canyon, maybe, but NOT out here. Stick a turkey (or something) in your mouth. Progresso Soup maybe?

Don’t believe a word he says Fact check every line item he,the chamber and city city tell you. The city budget has reversed two of these numbers in the report to make them look better in tourism jobs. I believe they did it on purpose.

I keep getting asked about what I would cut. There is so much waste it would take a book. This is a fun one though, only because it has some standard other than we go to meetings and do lots of things.

Community Development in Sedona
If you look at the Fiscal year 16-17 payroll you see 16 names
Two were not paid much, so 14 full time
So 4 days a week, 28 paid days off, leaves 180 work days.

Total permits issued per the city that year 625
14 Full time employees times 180 work days =2520 work days
By my math that means every 4 days they have to look at a permit. That’s everything from a fence, kitchen remodel to a new building.

I thought 3 was a good number of staff. My neighbor a engineer and contractor guessed 3. With 3 staff they would have to look at slightly more than 1 permit a day. Nope 14 staff just in community development.

Do you think they might be overstaffed?

From what I can tell , every city department with the exception of the police are in a similar state of over staffing. I don’t plan on cutting the police.

Tony has always done this thruout the years………(Deleted by Editor)
Any fool can’t rant and say things (lies) that aren’t true or make no sense and Tony is no exception..
come on Tony T….your not that smart and that’s why your talk is relevant to zero.

Whomever runs for mayor besides you will get my vote… if your agaisnt Homerule …then I’m for it…

Actually I like to say thank you for my new voting barometer ….if your for it, I vote agaisnt it..